Does a country need to have a high GDP to be called as rich country? Isnt high GDP per capita enough?

Question

Does a country need to have a high GDP to be called as rich country? Isnt high GDP per capita enough?

Answer 1

A small country can be "rich" ( high standard of living) but not powerful and some times people mean  that a county  exerts economic influence when they say rich.  

Answer 2

It depends on your frame of reference. A small country like Switzerland might have a smallish GDP, but the people in that country would be near the top in personal wealth. Are you interested in what wherewithal the COUNTRY has or the PEOPLE have?

Answer 3

I don't believe that GDP alone has anything to do with a country being rich.  China for instance has the second largest economy behind the United States, but per capita GDP is ranked 133 in the world at $5300 per person.  The world average is $10,000.  So to answer your question, GDP has nothing to do with a country being rich.  It is GDP per capita that is the determining factor.